A League Cup tie between two of the countries biggest clubs is not usually an important barometer of a season - but Liverpool v Chelsea might be just that.

It was very early days, but when Chelsea won their opening two Premier League games in thrilling fashion and Liverpool laboured to two draws, it looked as if the Anfield club might lament their hesitancy over Xabi Alonso.

Since then, though, Andoni Iraola's side have clawed their way above Chelsea in the table - albeit by just one point - and it is Alonso who has more questions to answer.

Chelsea have no European football this season, so to go out of the Carabao Cup this week would leave them with only league games and the FA Cup to play - and a big group of players to keep happy.

It would also reinforce the feeling - on the back of poor results against Hull City, Brentford and Tottenham - that Alonso is a long way from getting to grips with an expensive but imbalanced squad.

The collapse of the deal for Lamine Camara looks every bit as costly as it felt on transfer deadline day, with Moises Caicedo shouldering too much work in midfield, which has left exposed a defence that has yet to convince irrespective of formation and personnel.

In the vast majority of seasons, this game would be a run-out for fringe players as the superstars were rested before a league game followed by Champions League action.

In 2026-27 however, Alonso will field a strong side in search of a statement win at his former club. He will hope it can change the narrative after the miserable defeat to Spurs.

Liverpool are in better spirits after four successive wins since the defeat against Manchester City.

Iraola has extracted more from costly forward recruits than Arne Slot managed and the progress Rio Ngumoha has made under him has been impressive. The team is playing with more energy and purpose than last season, even if a porous central midfield remains a concern.

That improved intensity in addition to fourth place in the league and a 100% Champions League record means Iraola has made a good early impression.

He will however be aware that a defeat to the man - and a popular former player at that - who was widely touted for his job would be a less-than-ideal look.

Yet with a smaller squad and more fixtures for Liverpool, he is likely to field more youngsters - and that could give Chelsea the opportunity to seize the statement win their stuttering season could do with.